America’s segregated labour market

By THE DATA TEAM

MEN and women often pursue different lines of work. This form of segregation has important consequences. The fastest-growing industries in America are those that have long employed more women, such as health care and education. Meanwhile, many sectors traditionally dominated by men, such as manufacturing and mining, have grown much more slowly. This does not mean that female workers are better off. Although female-dominated industries have suffered fewer job losses from globalisation and technological change, they also pay less.